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Travel Inspiration FromTennessee Local Greta Hollar

Tennesse Dept. of Tourist Development

Take A Day Trip to Sumner County

There’s lots to see and do in this entertainment-filled county. Discover what to eat, drink, and explore!

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June 19, 2018

One thing I love about working with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is that they send me on the most amazing trips. I've driven through Sumner County for years but I've never stopped to explore all the fun things it has to offer. I was super stoked when I saw this day trip itinerary, plus it's only a half hour to an hour drive (account for traffic) outside of Nashville!

After reading about all there is to do in Sumner County, you’ll be ready to get in your car and make a daytrip (or more) out of all the shops, restaurants, outdoor offerings and deep rooted history. So, read below on all there is to do in this entertainment-filled county.

Explore

If you want to have a good sweat session while in Sumner County, make a trip to Bledsoe Creek State Park. Easy hikes with picturesque views of the lake and moderate hikes that will get you perspiring can all be found here. You may even see a few deer as they also like the quiet and peace Bledsoe Creek State Park brings.

Drive down the road to Hendersonville and explore Historic Rock Castle. While technically not a castle, Rock Castle is one of the oldest houses in Middle Tennessee and was owned by Daniel Smith, a politician and military officer, and his family. Sign up for a tour and look through the house to see antiques and how the house was decorated in the 1800s. My favorite room was the dining room – the giant windows and blue and white china are so charming!

Eat

Enjoy a cup of coffee as you watch the world go by.

Start your day off with a coffee and breakfast at Umbra. Umbra is the shadow of an eclipse and the coffee shop, located in the Gallatin square, opened the weekend of the August 2017 eclipse. Fitting, right? The space has large windows, leather chairs, exposed brick, and hardwood floors. It's the perfect place to grab a latte and a blueberry muffin. It's also a great spot for a business meeting or catching up with friends.

Have a filling and delicious lunch.

Stop in for lunch at the Chocolate Covered Strawberry. Don’t be fooled by the exterior as it resembles a residence; however, inside is a boutique, gift shop, and cafe. The staff is warm and friendly and lunch is even more amazing. Order the ham and cheese on sourdough, chicken pot pie soup, chips and, of course, you have to save room for a couple of chocolate covered strawberries. You will leave stuffed!

Sip and socialize.

If you're meeting someone for drinks, stop by the local watering hole, Half Batch Brewing. Order an assortment of beers for sipping and socializing. My two favorites were the Two Foot Cream Ale and Fruity Foot. They also have game night where you can find a lot of locals chatting and hanging out.

You'll dream about the Cheese Styx at Awedaddys.

When you're ready for dinner, go to the lake and enjoy the view at Awedaddys, ready to splurge for dinner. Order the Cheesy Styx, stuffed mozzarella sticks coated in a light breading. The fish tacos and the burger are great choices for entrees. Live music is also performed Thursdays-Sundays. After dinner, enjoy the lake views on the pier as the sun sets for the evening.

Finally, enjoy dessert at La Michoacana Deluxe. All ingredients are fresh and natural; everything is handmade and there are no artificial flavors. Check out the menu here.

Peruse art and antiques.

If you enjoy antiques, art, and collectibles, go to Gallatin square and look around Worthington Galleries. This gallery has one-of-a-kind pieces and you can spend all day shopping through the collection. A highlight of Worthington is the Civil War-inspired chess set.

Find unique fashions in Gallatin's boutiques.

Park your car and walk up and down N. Water Avenue in Gallatin. You'll find cute shops lining the street. Start off with Tennessee Honey. This boutique carries southern, feminine, flowy pieces and has some great gift options.

Shop for modern cuts and flowy fabrics.

Near Tennessee Honey is Waine. If you're looking for some trendy pieces, stop by and browse through their clothing options.

Add a pop of color to your wardrobe with the help of Sumner County's shopping.

Head to Hendersonville to the charming Bates Boutique. The girls who worked there are sweet and helpful. They carry on-trend pieces for the seasons. Head there if you’re looking for new tops, rompers or swimwear. Follow them on Instagram for new arrivals and sales. You’ll be back to shop again and again.

Outfit your home.

Down the road from Bates Boutique is Honey Hole Market. The decor is gorgeous, the owner feels like your new best friend, and the shop cat is so friendly and cuddly! Honey Hole has vintage farmhouse home decor to help make your space look like it should be in The Magnolia Journal.

This may sound like a jam-packed day but all these places are close in close proximity and are meant to be slow-paced and leisurely. Reader's Digestnamed Gallatin the nicest place in America and I can see why! If you're in Nashville for vacation, or even if you're a local, Sumner County is worth seeing. You'll get a true sense of what Tennessee is made of, the true kindness of its people felt across the state.